Zip line transport trolley system

ABSTRACT

A trolley having a trolley upper portion; a trolley wheel carriage secured to the trolley upper portion; and a trolley lower portion extending downwardly from said trolley upper portion, allowing the trolley to be displaced along a box to box cable.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was not made with Government support under. The Government does not have any rights in this invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

What is needed is a device to reduce compression forces on zipline apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention comprises a zipline transfer device (10), comprising: a tower (200); a box to box cable (110) extending from a first tower (200) to a second tower (200); and a trolley (100) having a trolley wheel carriage (790) secured to said trolley (100).

Another aspect is a zip line transfer device (10), comprising: a tower (200) a box to counterweight cable (270) extending from a counterweight (430) to an inline transfer box (460); and a box to box cable (110) connected at one end to said inline transfer box (460), and at another end to at least one of either another tower (200) or another inline transfer box (460); an adjustable height termination means (500) movably disposed on said tower (200), said box to counterweight cable (270) extending from a counterweight (430) upwardly to said inline transfer box (460) via said adjustable height termination means (500); a moveable member (100) that is capable of being displaced on said box to box cable (110); a non tensioned cable (220) connected to said inline transfer box (460), said non tensioned cable (220) extending from said inline transfer box (460) to at least one of either a landing ramp exit box (650) or a safety cable transfer box (630), said landing ramp exit box (650) and said safety cable transfer box (630) secured to said tower (200); an ascension-descension means (750), whereby a person may be able to ascend or descend the tower (200) so that the person may removably be connected to a moveable member (100) at ground level before ascension, and the person may then traverse said box to box cable (110) and said non tensioned cable (220); and at least one of either said box to box cable (110), said non tensioned cable (220) and said box to counterweight cable (270) is a dual cable. Another aspect of the invention is a trolley (100), comprising: a trolley upper portion (770); a trolley wheel carriage (790) secured to said trolley upper portion (770); and a trolley lower portion (780) extending downwardly from said trolley upper portion (770), whereby said trolley (100) can be displaced along a box to box cable (110).

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention 10 showing towers 200 and box to box cables 110;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial top view of an embodiment of a portion of the tower 200 and the inline transfer box 460;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial of an embodiment of the tower 200 and counterweight 430;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial of an embodiment of an inline transfer box 460;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial a side view of the inline transfer box 460;

FIG. 6 is a pictorial of a portion of the stairwell 750 and tower 200 of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial of an embodiment of a portion of the tower and the inline transfer box 460;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial of an embodiment of the trolley 100 or moveable member 100;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial of another embodiment of a moveable member 100 or trolley 100 of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a pictorial of an embodiment of a trolley wheel carriage 790 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   10 zip line apparatus     -   20 brace     -   30 pole     -   40 landing ramp     -   50 take off ramp     -   60 support pipe     -   70 support pipe connection     -   80 ramp pipe connection     -   90 transfer system     -   100 trolley     -   110 box to box cable     -   115 second direction     -   120 moveable member     -   130 housing     -   140 landing rail 1     -   150 landing rail 2     -   160 center rail     -   170 outside stringer guard-hand rail     -   180 zip line termination pole     -   190 ramp support cantilever     -   200 tower     -   210 second tower     -   220 non-tensioned cable     -   230 platform cantilever     -   240 center track support     -   250 outer track support     -   260 track slot     -   270 box to counterweight cable     -   280 zip profile     -   290 ramp assembly     -   310 support member     -   320 main support connection     -   330 existing stair     -   340 angle framing     -   350 support angle     -   360 ramp tubing     -   370 ramp connection     -   380 termination cables     -   390 tower safety cables     -   400 participant displacement device     -   410 landing joists     -   420 landing deck     -   430 counterweight     -   440 zipline to counterweight portion     -   450 counterweight adjustable pulley     -   460 inline transfer box     -   470 box support member     -   480 zipline termination pole     -   490 termination pole support     -   500 adjustable height cable termination means     -   510 support plate     -   520 mounting plate     -   620 safety cables     -   630 safety cable transfer box     -   640 termination post     -   650 landing ramp exit box     -   660 zipline cable receiver     -   665 zipline cable receiver support     -   670 counterweight cable receiver     -   690 body     -   695 first direction     -   700 head     -   710 cable receiving aperture     -   720 safety cable attachment     -   725 attachment aperture     -   730 non tensioned cable receiver     -   740 neck     -   750 stairwell     -   760 trolley wheel     -   770 trolley upper portion     -   780 trolley lower portion     -   790 trolley wheel carriage     -   800 trolley wheel housing     -   810 trolley carriage pivot     -   820 angular displacement     -   830 substantially vertical axis     -   840 separator

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a zip line transport device 10, also referred to herein as a transport device 10, or the present invention 10. In one embodiment, the transport device has a tower 200 and a second tower 200. As seen in FIG. 1, a plurality of box to box cables 110 may be disposed between the first tower 200 and the second tower 200. The box to box cable 110 may form a zip line profile 280. In addition, a plurality of box to box cables 110 may form a zip line profile 280. In one embodiment, there may be two box to box cables 110 disposed next to each other to form a double zip line cables, also referred to as a double box to box cable 110, as best seen in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, which is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention 10, a box to box cable 110 may be disposed between two inline transfer boxes 460. A box to counterweight cable 270 may be connected at one end to the inline transfer box 460, and at another end to a counterweight 430, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, there may be two box to counterweight cables 270. A non-tensioned cable 220 may be disposed between the inline transfer box 460 and a landing ramp exit box 650. This configuration may allow the counterweight 430 to become displaced in a substantially vertical direction when a person or people are causing a load on the box to box cable 110. This also may reduce the tension within the box to box cable 110 and whatever the box to box cable 110 may be attached to, as compared with the box to box cable 110 secured to a fixed post, rather than a counterweight 430. FIG. 2 also illustrates a landing ramp exit box 650, which extends away from the termination beam 640.

A person may traverse the box to box cable 110 by using a moveable member 100, also referred to herein as a trolley 100, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates an inline transfer box 460. The inline transfer box 460 may have a zip line cable receiver 660. A moveable member 100 may be able to be moved past the zip line cable receiver 660 because the moveable member 100 (as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9) cable receiving aperture 710 may have a diameter or area that is larger than the diameter or area of the zip line cable receiver 660. The inline transfer box 460 may also have a counterweight cable receiver 670 secured thereto and capable of receiving a box to counterweight cable 270 therein. The box to counterweight cable 270 may have a body 690 attached thereto so that the box to counterweight cable 270, when in tension, may force the inline transfer box 460 in a first direction 695, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The box to box cable 110 may, when in tension, force the inline transfer box 460 in a direction opposite the first direction 695, which is called a second direction 115. Thus, if a person is displacing the box to box cable 110, the inline transfer box 460 may shift in the second direction 115. This may then cause the counterweight 430 to ascend upwardly, which may then reduce tension in the box to box cable 110. The counterweight 430 may be heavy enough to limit the amount of ascension, and thus tension reduction in the box to box cable 110.

FIG. 4 also illustrates the non-tensioned cable receiver 730. The non-tensioned cable 220 may be secured thereto. The non-tensioned cable receiver 730 may route users off of the apparatus 10 back to the ground as seen in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the non tensioned cable 220 may be routed to a landing ramp exit box 650, or to a safety cable transfer box 630.

Therefore, the user may use the moveable member 100 to traverse along the box to box cable 110, after the user has left the take off ramp 50 and before the user is on the landing ramp 40. The user may also use the moveable member 100 to traverse along the non tensioned cable 220 when walking on the stairwell 750. The user may be hooked into the non tensioned cable 220 when on the ground when first being hooked into the system 10, up to being on the box to box cable 110.

The user is typically never traversing the box to counterweight cable 270.

The adjustable height termination assembly 500 may be able to be adjusted vertically by a fastener means, such as screws, or pins.

FIG. 5 illustrates at side view of the inline transfer box 460, and how a user may traverse from the box to box cable 110 to a landing ramp exit box 650.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a tower 200 of the present invention 10. The tower 200 may have a stairwell 750 so people can ascend and descend to various destinations, such as the ground, to a landing ramp 40, or to a takeoff ramp 50. The tower 200 may have a termination post 640 that is oriented substantially vertical. The termination post 640 may have an adjustable height termination assembly 500 adjustably mounted thereon. The adjustable height termination assembly 500 may receive a box to counterweight cable 270. The zip line cables 220 may extend through the adjustable height termination assembly 500 to a counterweight 430 so at one end, the zip line cables 220 may be connected to the counterweight 430, and at the other end to a termination post 640. In another embodiment, one end of the zip line cables 220 may be connected (as for example via the box to counterweight cable 270) to a counterweight 430, and the other end also to a counterweight 430.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the moveable member 100 or trolley 100 may have a head 700 having a cable receiving aperture 710 therein. In one embodiment, there may be more than one cable receiving aperture 710. A neck 740 may extend from said head 700. The neck 740 may have a safety cable attachment 720 to allow a user to attach a safety cable (not illustrated) to the neck 740. In one embodiment the cable receiving aperture 710 has a rotatable pulley (not illustrated) secured therein, which can rotate to allow the moveable member 100 to move relative to a cable, such as a box to box cable 110, or a non tensioned cable 220. In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the trolley 100 has a trolley wheel carriage 790 pivotally disposed within a trolley upper portion 770. The trolley wheel carriage 790 may have four trolley wheels 760 rotatably disposed to the trolley wheel carriage 790. The four trolley wheels 760 may be aligned in two pairs, each pair may be displaced on one cable, so that there may be a “front” set of wheels, and a “rear” set of wheels, to keep the trolley 100 aligned, and reduce angular displacement 820 along a substantially vertical axis 830 as the trolley 100 is moving along a cable, such as the box to box cable 110, or any other cable.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a trolley wheel carriage 790 of the present invention. The trolley wheel carriage 790 may be able to receive two pairs of rotatably disposed wheels 760. A trolley carriage pivot 810 may be pivotally attached to the trolley upper portion 770 to allow some pivoting about the axis (not illustrated) of the trolley carriage pivot 810. This may allow the trolley carriage pivot 810 to pivot according to the positioning of any cable that the wheels 760 may be on. In addition, in one embodiment each trolley wheel carriage 790 may be pivotally disposed to said trolley upper portion 770, but independent of the other trolley wheel carriage 790, to allow for independent suspension of each pair of wheels 760.

In one embodiment, two trolley wheel carriages 790 may be secured to the trolley 100. The trolley wheel carriage 790 may have two-trolley wheels 760 rotationally disposed in-line thereon. “In-line” is defined as being able to roll along the same box to box cable 110. The two in-line wheels may be oriented in a manner similar to a front left and rear left wheel of a 4-wheeled motor vehicle. This may allow the trolley 100 to be displaced on two adjacent box to box cables 110.

In one embodiment a separator 840 may be disposed between the trolley lower portion 780 and a neck 740. This way the neck 740 acts as a handle, and the separator 840 prevents the user from holding the trolley 100 above the separator 840. The neck 740 may extend downwardly from the trolley lower portion 780 to terminate in a safety cable attachment 720. The safety cable attachment 720 may be have an attachment aperture 725 so that a cable may be tied to it, or may go through the attachment aperture 725 and tied to another part of the cable.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A zip line transfer device (10), comprising: a tower (200); a box to box cable (110) extending from a first tower (200) to a second tower (200); and a trolley (100) having a trolley wheel carriage (790) secured to said trolley (100).
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a box to counterweight cable (270) extending from a counterweight (430) to an inline transfer box (460); and said box to box cable (110) connected at one end to said inline transfer box (460) of said first tower (200), and at another end to at least one of either said second tower (200) or another inline transfer box (460).
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an adjustable height termination means (500) movably disposed on said tower (200), said box to counterweight cable (270) extending from a counterweight (430) upwardly to said inline transfer box (460) via said adjustable height termination means (500).
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: said trolley wheel carriage (790) having a trolley wheel (760) rotatably secured thereon.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: said trolley wheel carriage (790) having a plurality of trolley wheels (760) rotatably secured thereon.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a non tensioned cable (220) connected to said inline transfer box (460), said non tensioned cable (220) extending from said inline transfer box (460) to at least one of either a landing ramp exit box (650) or a safety cable transfer box (630), said landing ramp exit box (650) and said safety cable transfer box (630) secured to said tower (200).
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an ascencion-descencion means (750), whereby a person may be able to ascend or descend the tower (200) so that the person may removably be connected to a moveable member (100) at ground level before ascension, and the person may then traverse said box to box cable (110) and a non tensioned cable (220).
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of either said box to box cable (110), said non tensioned cable (220) and said box to counterweight cable (270) is a dual cable.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said trolley wheel carriage (790) has two pairs of trolley wheels (760) to reduce the angular displacement (820) of the trolley (100) along a substantially vertically oriented axis (830).
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said trolley wheel carriage (790) is pivotally secured to said trolley (100).
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: two trolley wheel carriages (790) secured to said trolley (100), a trolley wheel (760) rotationally disposed on said trolley wheel carriage (790), whereby said trolley (100) can be displaced on two adjacent box to box cables (110).
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: two trolley wheel carriages (790) secured to said trolley (100), said trolley wheel carriage (790) having two trolley wheels (760) rotationally disposed in-line thereon, whereby said trolley (100) can be displaced on two adjacent box to box cables (110).
 13. A zip line transfer device (10), comprising: a tower (200) a box to counterweight cable (270) extending from a counterweight (430) to an inline transfer box (460); and a box to box cable (110) connected at one end to said inline transfer box (460), and at another end to at least one of either another tower (200) or another inline transfer box (460); an adjustable height termination means (500) movably disposed on said tower (200), said box to counterweight cable (270) extending from a counterweight (430) upwardly to said inline transfer box (460) via said adjustable height termination means (500); a moveable member (100) that is capable of being displaced on said box to box cable (110); a non tensioned cable (220) connected to said inline transfer box (460), said non tensioned cable (220) extending from said inline transfer box (460) to at least one of either a landing ramp exit box (650) or a safety cable transfer box (630), said landing ramp exit box (650) and said safety cable transfer box (630) secured to said tower (200); an ascencion-descencion means (750), whereby a person may be able to ascend or descend the tower (200) so that the person may removably be connected to a moveable member (100) at ground level before ascension, and the person may then traverse said box to box cable (110) and said non tensioned cable (220); and at least one of either said box to box cable (110), said non tensioned cable (220) and said box to counterweight cable (270) is a dual cable.
 14. A trolley (100), comprising: a trolley upper portion (770); a trolley wheel carriage (790) secured to said trolley upper portion (770); and a trolley lower portion (780) extending downwardly from said trolley upper portion (770), whereby said trolley (100) can be displaced along a box to box cable (110).
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein, at least two of said trolley wheel carriages (790) are secured to said trolley (100), each of said trolley wheel carriage (790) having two trolley wheels (760) rotationally disposed in-line thereon, whereby said trolley (100) can be displaced on two adjacent box to box cables (110).
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said trolley wheel carriage (790) is pivotally secured to said trolley upper portion (770).
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said trolley lower portion (780) terminates in a safety cable attachment (770).
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein, at least two of said trolley wheel carriages (790) pivotally secured to said trolley (100), each of said trolley wheel carriage (790) having two trolley wheels (760) rotationally disposed in-line thereon, whereby said trolley (100) can be displaced on two adjacent box to box cables (110); and said trolley lower portion (780) terminates in a safety cable attachment (770).
 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said trolley lower portion (780) has a neck (740) extending downwardly therefrom; and said neck (740) terminates in a safety cable attachment (720).
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising: a separator (840) disposed between said trolley lower portion (780) and said neck (740). 